Jason's POV

　　And Abigail?

　　That WAS the million-dollar question! 

　　My mate was currently heading into the pack house, surrounded by our family. I could feel her happiness through the bond and see it in the sway of her petite hips. Archer was purring with satisfaction watching her walk away, clawing at the inside of my head to follow her, witnessing her look over her shoulder at us, blowing a kiss as she disappeared through the doors.

　　"I seriously hope that was for you! Because incest is really not my thing!" Tommy hackled, punching him hard in the arm, I shook my head putting on a pair of shorts my father had brought out for me.

　　"Tool!" I laughed jokingly; Archer, however, wasn't so amused!

　　"Careful!" Archer warned seriously.

　　"Yeah, yeah! I forgot you activated possessive dick mode!" He laughed a little nervously, walking over to one of the garden tables, sitting on top of it, hooking his feet up on one of the cushioned chairs. 

　　"My mother will tan your ass if she sees you have your feet on the furniture!" I grinned, pulling the chair out from under his feet and sitting on it, ignoring his dramatic pout. 

　　"She's going to be far too excited about your news to care about my feet on one of her embroidered cushions." 

　　"Want to put money on that?" I taunted, arching my brow as I looked at my lifelong friend, knowing he was waiting for an answer to his earlier question. But the truth was I didn't know what to say! Watching Kayla walk into the pack house, I was insanely proud to have her as my mate, but at the mention of Abigail, my heart raced, my cock twitched, and all I could think of was her sweet scent of vanilla and coconut! 

　　"I will take that wager!" He laughed; the silence that followed hung in the air, thick and heavy. He knew I was stalling.

　　"I don't know what you want me to say here, mate!" I stated, looking over at the pyre. At least half a dozen bodies must have lined up for a traditional pack send-off. I hated that the pack had taken a hit tonight, I hated that lives had been lost, but mostly I hated that I didn't know who was responsible for this bullshit and who I had to kill!

　　"You could start by telling me if this drama with Abigail is behind you. Or if I am going to be picking my sister's broken heart up off the floor and helping her glue it back together!" He huffed, pulling a chocolate bar out of his back pocket, making quick work of the wrapper; he shovelled it in his mouth. Shaking my head at his sweet tooth, I sighed and answered truthfully.

　　"Kayla and I have had a chat; we are on the same page; she knows where I stand where Abigail is concerned."

　　"And where is that?" He answered with a mouthful of chocolate and confusion, not letting me off the hook that easily. Taking a deep breath, I let the crisp morning air fill my lungs; I looked at my best friend, trying to hide the apprehension from my face. 

　　"As your one-day beta, I have to know what's happening in your head! I can only protect the pack if I have all the facts! And if you choose to pursue this girl.." 

　　"Abigail, She has a name!" I warned, my tone charged; Tommy paused, seemingly losing his voice for a moment as he looked at me assessing the situation, his eyes glimmering with the protection of his wolf; both of them were on edge. 

　　"Is he scared of us?" I asked Archer, who was observing his friend and seemingly communicating with his wolf. 

　　"Well, we tried to rip his leg off a few hours ago; that's a good enough reason to be nervous around us." Archer chuckled, circling around in the confines of my mind. 

　　"That was all you, buddy!" I countered with a sigh, looking at my friend and beta. 

　　"My wrath, yes... but it came from your unresolved shit with him!" Archer stated, bored by the topic; he was itching to get back to Kayla and leave all further conversations about Abigail and her role in his life until after we had seen her tomorrow, and knew where we stood.

　　"I would never hurt him intentionally," I whispered feebly. Archer's words had hit a nerve, which usually meant he was right! 

　　"No, BUT if he keeps talking about Abigail like she's a walking disaster- I WILL!!" Archer roared, his tone leaving no room for misunderstanding: he was serious! 

　　"Everything ok?" Kayla's sweet voice whispered down the bond, making me wince. I had forgotten she could feel everything I felt, including my growing anger at her brother. 

　　"Yes, your brothers, just a cunt!" I grumbled back, narrowing my eyes on Tommy, who was waiting for a reply. "How would you feel if Archer was to rip one of his legs off?" Her sweet giggles flowed down the bond, soothing Archer a little. 

　　"I am not sure he would be respected as your Beta if he had to hobble behind you, baby!" Her sweet giggles reminded me of when she was younger, and Tommy and I would tease her. She would make the most musical sound every time I came close. And, like now, it always made me smile!

　　"Had I always loved her? On some level, had I known she was my mate?" I asked Archer, who was still grinning like a Cheshire cat after hearing her lovely voice bounce around our head.

　　"Do you remember that boyfriend she had?" Archer asked while rubbing himself up against the back of my mind like a damn cat in heat!

　　"No?" I answered, confused. When did Kayla have a boyfriend, and why didn't I remember it? Did I know him? Was he part of my pack? Jealousy gripped my spine in a vice, crushing it painfully.

　　"Exactly!" Archer heckled, still grinding against the walls of my mind. "YOU never let a guy get close to her! And if someone had tried..." 

　　"I'd have killed him," I answered plainly, frowning at the realisation that even without meaning to, I had kept Kayla for myself, isolated from any possible chance of having fun and exploring her sexuality and needs! I was all she knew! I eyed Tommy, who was greedily pulling more sweets from his pocket and shoving them in his gusset. 

　　"This is the unresolved issue you were speaking about? I kept her safe? With me she was untouchable! She had no wolf! I was her protection. Does Tommy resent me for loving his sister? For not letting her.. what.. become a whore and pack laughing stock? " I tried to rationalise, feeling the hairs at the back of my neck bristling with growing irritation.

　　"No, he hates that you made her YOUR whore!"